DFMA Repeaters

Although there was a brisk wind when we started at 10am there were four of us working inside, outside, and on top, of the MCU. Good improvements were made by the time we finished at noon.

Working on the outside, Wilson-W4BOH and Rhett-KE4HIH applied their electrical engineering skills to install a new electric fuel pump on in the gas line of the generator. This is active only when the choke button is pressed and will help pull fuel from the tank to the carburetor. When the engine starts and the choke is released, then the mechanical fuel pump on the generator takes over.

Ken-KI4QXY has been working to bring together the hardware and software to be able send emails from the MCU. Saturday was the day to install the pc with Winlink software and connect it to the existing Yaesu FT-897. There were a few glitches but the day was a success when Ken came back in the afternoon and was able to send an email to Wilson, going through an HF station 1,000 miles away. This is an important capability! This means that wherever on the face of the planet the MCU is located, we can send email. It's slow and messages need to be short but if the local Internet were to be down, then this capability would be critical.

Lowell-KK4PH has had the new lift / lay motor for the Tarheel antenna for a few months. The original motor failed to lower the Tarheel following the Halloween Bike race. It was replaced under warranty by the manufacturer and the new motor was mounted, and the switches were re-mounted to the wall inside the MCU and labeled, this time, to indicate which switch is which and which direction the Tarheel is moved.

The MCU will be at two events in the near future. It will return for the second year at the Creekside Elementary School Science Fair March 14. Let Rhett know if you can help. The MCU will make it's first appearance at the Touch-a-truck event at University Mall in Chapel on April 15.

If you are a DFMA member, then the MCU belongs to you and you are encouraged to learn it's operations and capabilities. Contact a board member if you would like to learn more about the MCU.